Comments about ‘On second thought...’

Jay Evensen's second thoughts. If you want to talk about something with predictably embarrassing consequences, here it is. Just for the record here, Russia, China has no common ground when it comes down to oil in the dead of winter, in Iran the only common ground they have are nukes. This will be like Hanoi Jane talking to a Sunday School Teacher and asking for them to surrender for the cause. Hillary Clinton should of been meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific economic summit, not Obama, unless we may go into WWIII over this stunt. The United States can push for more sanctions against Iran, but they don't work. As I said, it's no secret the clock is ticking very fast, toward Iran becoming a nuclear-armed threat, the United States should absolutely support the Israelis, if they launch an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before Christmas 2011. Basically Congress is gutting our military with cuts on troops. The US House will leave Americans unable to protect and defend themselves. Take off your blinders in your comfort zone, and, wake up to smell the real coffee here.

That's my "second-thoughts" Jay.

South Salt Lake has a population of 23,617, and only 1,827 people cast votes. I guess the rest were thinking about this?. The number of foreign-born residents in the United States including legal and illegal immigrants reached 40 million last year, the highest figure in American history, new Census Bureau figures disclose. Nearly 14 million new immigrants came to America from 2000 to 2010, making it the highest-ever decade for immigration. The increase came even though there was a net decline of jobs during the decade, showing that immigration remains high even during periods of our economic weakness. Of the 40 million foreign-born residents in the country, from 10 million to 12 million are likely illegal aliens, the Bureau reports. America's immigrant population has doubled since 1990 and nearly tripled since 1980. Mexico was by far the origin of the most immigrants during that decade, nearly 12 million, followed by China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, 2.16 million; India, 1.78 million; Philippines, 1.77 million; Vietnam, 1.24 million; and El Salvador, 1.21 million. Absent a change in policy, new immigration will likely continue at very high levels. NO-MORE Work Visas.

@Brother Chuck Schroeder, you claimed, "...immigration remains high even during periods of our economic weakness."

Actually net migration from Mexico became either level or negative following the 2008 economic meltdown.

Sources of new Mexican-American population:
1980 to 1990: 2.7 million births, 3.1 million new immigrants
1990 to 2000: 4.7 million births, 4.7 million new immigrants
2000 to 2010: 7.2 million births, 4.2 million new immigrants

Those births represent new, legal, native citizens.
If you're afraid of them, start treating them better. We need them. If you still don't want so many, you may consider streamlining and increasing the number of temporary permits so that all of those who only come here for jobs are allowed to easily travel home and back without fear.

Re: John C. C. | 10:50 a.m. Nov. 14, 2011
Payson, UT
@Brother Chuck Schroeder, If you're afraid of them, start treating them better. We need them.

Reply: Now you sound like those lobbiests and bureaucrats on K Street. We don't need any of them.

Mexico was by far the origin of the most immigrants during that decade, nearly 12 million, followed by China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, 2.16 million; India, 1.78 million; Philippines, 1.77 million; Vietnam, 1.24 million; and El Salvador, 1.21 million. Absent a change in policy, new immigration will likely continue at very high levels. NO-MORE Work Visas. Deport them all along with their kid's.

Truth and facts don't lie.

Governments at all levels hold bond elections or votes to raise other taxes during the lowest turnout elections possible. That way they only have to get a very small number of their supporters to turn out in order to raise taxes or to saddle citizens with multi-million dollar bond reimbursements.

However, the solution is not to double the amount of the bond as suggested by Mr. Evensen. A better solution would be to require a double majority to pass any bond or tax increase. A double majority requires a majority of register voters to vote and a majority of those to pass the bond or tax. This still allows only 25% plus one of all registered voters to pass a bond or tax increase but it is a much higher thresh hold than currently exists. In fact, under the current system if only one voter turned out and voted for a huge tax increase, it would pass.

If a double majority were required, rather than trying to suppress voter turnout, elected officials would have to encourage voter turnout and convince those voting that the bond or tax increase is a good idea.

Brother Chuck Schroeder seems to oppose immigrants in general. That's too bad. New immigrants are the lifeblood of our nation. Supporting the free flow of immigration is the best way we have of both improving our own economy and sharing our successful system of open and free trade with the rest of the world.